Tree Pruning and Crown Reduction in Essex, Hertfordshire and London
A tree that is too big, too dense or too close does not always have to come down. Pruning it properly lets the light back in, clears the house and the neighbours, and keeps the tree healthy.
Crown reduction
The whole canopy is brought in, height and spread, by cutting back to well-placed branches. Done well, the tree keeps its natural shape and just looks smaller. It is the usual answer for a tree that has outgrown its space or is catching more wind than it should.
Crown lifting and thinning
Lifting removes the lowest branches, so you can walk, park or mow underneath and light reaches the garden. Thinning takes out a proportion of the smaller branches inside the crown, so it is lighter and lets more light and wind through, without changing the tree's size much.
Pollarding
Some trees, such as willows, limes and planes, respond well to being cut back to a framework of main limbs and allowed to regrow. It keeps a fast-growing tree to a manageable size, and is usually repeated every few years. Our willow pollards are on the before-and-after slider on the home page.
Overhanging branches
A neighbour's tree hanging over your garden is one of the most common jobs we are called for. Branches crossing the boundary can generally be cut back to it, provided the tree is not protected. We keep the cut tidy and the tree healthy, and it is always worth a word with the neighbour first.
What is included
- A free visit and honest advice on what the tree needs
- Crown reductions
- Crown lifting
- Crown thinning
- Pollarding
- Deadwood removal
- Overhanging branches cut back to the boundary
- Everything chipped and taken away
What a reduction actually looks like.
Our own photos, taken from the same spot before and after. The tree stays, it just comes back down to a size and shape that suits the garden.
Height reduction
A row of tall poplars towering over a close of houses, brought down to a safe, manageable height.
BeforeAfterDrag the handle to compare
Some of our work
What customers say
In their own words, from public reviews. Read more reviews.
“I had Sam and his team over to thin out our willow tree that hadn’t be touched for years. A very friendly and knowledgable guy who made light work of a very big job, thanks again Sam will be in touch for more work 👍”
Stewart MarshallJune 2026 
Google“Very pleased with my tree reduction, would highly recommend The Tree Firm”
jan harkerApril 2026 Google
Common questions about pruning & crown reduction
What is the difference between a crown reduction and a crown thin?
A reduction makes the whole tree smaller, height and spread. A thin leaves the size much the same but takes out some of the smaller branches inside, so the crown is lighter and lets more light through. Many jobs are a bit of both.
When is the best time to prune a tree?
Most trees can be pruned at any time of year, and many are easiest in late autumn and winter when the leaves are off. A few species are better left at certain times, and nesting birds must not be disturbed in spring and summer. We will tell you if timing matters for yours.
Can I cut back my neighbour's overhanging tree?
Generally you can cut branches that cross onto your side back to the boundary, as long as the tree is not protected by a Tree Preservation Order or a conservation area. Speak to your neighbour first, and we will make sure the cuts are clean and do the tree no harm.
Do I need permission to prune a tree?
If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order, or you are in a conservation area, the council has to be told or asked before work starts. Most garden trees are not protected, but it is always worth checking with your local council first. We can advise you on what to look for.
Got a tree that needs sorting?
Tell us what needs doing and Sam will come and look. The visit and the quote are free, and there is no pressure at the end of it.
- Free quote, with no pressure
- Qualified, insured arborists
- Everything cleared and taken away
- Open 24 hours for emergencies
Got a photo of the tree?
Send a few on WhatsApp. It helps Sam see what is involved before he comes out.
Send photos on WhatsAppRather talk it through?
Tell us what needs doing and Sam will come and look. The visit and the quote are free, and there is no pressure at the end of it.
We also do:
Pruning & Crown Reduction in the towns we work in most:
